The list of topics that have been the subject of the most searches on Google during the year 2022 was revealed on Wednesday. In Quebec, as in Canada, the online word game Wordle has risen to first place among the most popular queries over the past 12 months. Word game enthusiasts also propelled Quordle to 7e search rank.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February, has also generated interest among Quebecers, with the term “Ukraine” being the second most popular search term this year in the province. The FIFA World Cup in Qatar follows in third place.
Singer Karim Ouellet, found dead in a Quebec studio in January, and director Jean-Marc Vallée, who died in December 2021, have both been the subject of numerous searches in Quebec, at the 4e and 10e rank respectively.
The Quebec elections, the Disney film Encanto and the legal saga involving actor Johnny Depp are also on the list. The Quebec reality show Double occupancy Martinique ends at 5e rank of research of the year in the province.
Ladybug Invasion
Requests related to the COVID-19 pandemic remained relevant this year. In the “How” list, the query “How to do a quick test” ranks first in French searches. Remember that PCR tests carried out in screening clinics were reserved for certain priority groups at the end of 2021, during the Omicron wave. The Quebec population had to fall back on rapid tests to detect COVID-19.
Along with quick tests, “How will I die quiz”, “How to soften brown sugar”, “How to decongest” and “How to curl hair with a flat iron” are the top five queries this year.
Internet users also frequently searched for “How to get a Canadian passport”. Service Canada has faced a passport crisis as many Canadians want to start traveling outside the country again this summer.
The query “How to get rid of ladybugs in the house” also managed to place at 8e ranking of the charts. Warm temperatures led to a major outbreak of Asian lady beetles in the province this fall.
Hockey and monarchy
In Canada, it is the emblematic figure of hockey Guy Lafleur who occupies the first place of requests on athletes. The former Montreal Canadiens star player died at the age of 70 following a long battle with lung cancer in April.
Among queries about deceased public figures, Queen Elizabeth II generated the most interest across the country, followed by American actress Betty White.
It’s the Disney movie Encanto which was the most searched this year, despite being released in 2021. The big movie productions Top Gun and The Batman also sparked the interest of Canadians.
As for television series, it is the production on the American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, broadcast on Netflix, which has been the most sought after in the country. The drama series Euphoria (HBO) and Stranger Thingsthe monumental success of Netflix, follow.
The war in Ukraine was the most searched news event in Canada, followed by the major outage at Rogers Communications, which the company says has affected millions of Canadians and businesses. The outage was caused by a core network maintenance update.
The US midterm elections, the Saskatchewan massacre and the Freedom Convoy were also among the most popular queries this year.